Mary Henry (Independent)

We are all aware of the tragedy of the family who lost a premature baby in Cavan Hospital recently. I hope Senators will note the statement in today's newspapers by Tom Clarke, professor of neo-natal paediatrics in the College of Surgeons, to the effect that he feels the Minister for Health and Children is being unfairly treated because the survival rate of such infants, even in maternity hospitals in the city, is very poor.

The Department of Health and Children generates many problems itself by failing to release information. My colleagues have not been able to obtain information regarding the death rate of full-term infants delivered at home in the past five years. I have been writing to the Department since April and have not received any satisfactory replies. Even a freedom of information request has been refused. I have been told to obtain the information from the Central Statistics Office. There is no openness or transparency on this serious issue. I am seeking a debate in the new session on maternity services in this country. I have received more satisfactory replies from the midwives delivering children than I have from the Department of Health and Children.